Gearing for traction-engines.



M. A. THORESON. GEARING FOR TRACTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1913.

1 l 3 1 ,572, Patented Mar. 9, 1915.

2 SHBETS-SHEET 1.

M. A. THORESON. GEARING FOR TRACTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19, 1913.

Patented M21119, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 24 TH: HOUR/.- PE rERs cu PHOTO rmu \VA5H1IH1 mu MARTIN A. THORESON, OF MURDOCK, MINNESOTA.

GEARING FOR TRACTION-ENGINES Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 9, 1915..

Application filed November 19, 1913. Serial No. 801,945.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARTIN'A. THORESON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Murdock, in the county of Swift and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gearing for Traction-Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 1t appertains to make and use the same.

This invention comprehends improve ments in traction engines and relates more particularly to driving and clutch mechanism therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a traction engine of extremely simple construction, having reverse gear ng operated by simply sliding a loose pinlon along the drive shaft and a novel form of clutch mechanism for throwing the drlve shaft into operation.

Another and more specific object of the invention is to provide a traction engine, including a body having an internal combustion engine supported thereon and provided with a friction drive wheel, a drive shaft extending transversely of the body, a frame movable longitudinally of the body and rotatably supporting a second friction wheel for engagement with said first mentioned wheel, means for moving the frame to engage the two friction wheels and means connected to the second mentioned wheel for rotating the drive shaft.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combinations and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of one side of my improved traction engine, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the other side thereof, Fig. 3 is a top plan view with the bed or body partly broken away, and Fig. 4: is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the longitudinally movable frame.

Referring in detail to the drawings by numerals, 5 designates the bed or body of my improved traction engine which is supported by the steering wheels 6 and drive wheels 7 and 8, the former being journaled to a pivoted axle 9 and the latter being connected to the rear live axle 10. A drive shaft 11 extends transversely of the body 5, being journaled through the bracket 12 and has slidably secured to one end thereof a pinion 13. This pinion is splined upon the shaft 11 and may be shifted into engage-- ment with the gear 14- and pinion 15 by means of the pivoted lever 16, connecting rod 17 and yoke 18. The pinion 15 is carried by the stub shaft 19 and meshes continually with the large spur gear 20 which is rigid with the shaft 10, as is also the gear 11-.

An engine 21 of any suitable type and power is mounted upon the forward end of the bed 5 and has a friction wheel 22 rigidly secured to its main shaft for removable engagement with a similar wheel 23. This last mentioned wheel is rigidly secured to a shaft 24 carried by the preferably U-shaped frame 25. The shaft extends through the arms of the frame adjacent the free extremities thereof and carries in addition to the wheel 23, a spur gear 26 which drives an endless chain 27 meshing with the gear wheel 28 rigidly secured to the drive shaft 11. The frame 25 is supported in a horizontal plane by two pairs of pivoted arms 29 which are pivotally connected at their lower ends to the bracket 30 and at their upper ends to the arms of the frame adjacent the extremities thereof.

To shift the frame 25 longitudinally so as to engage or disengage the friction drive wheels, I employ a rod 31 which is pivotally connected at its rear end to a pivoted lever 32 and which projects forwardly through a slot 33 formed in the central portion of the frame 25. A guide or brace bar 34 extends transversely of the frame 25 and is formed with an opening 35 through which the rod 31 also extends. A stop collar 36 is rigidly secured to the rod 31 for engagement with the central portion of the frame 25 and also forms an abutment for one end of the helical spring 37 which surrounds the rod 31 and which bears at its forward end against the guide bar 34. The spring tension means allows the friction wheel 23 to be thrown into engagement with the wheel 22 without any undue shock and also makes it possible to hold the wheels properly engaged. The lever 32 may be locked in different positions by means of the pawl 38 and toothed quadrant 39.

'When the engine is running and the fric- 7 tion wheels are engaged, the drive shaft 11 will be rotated continuously and the direction in which the traction engine moves will be dependent upon which of the gears 14 and 15 is engaged by the pinion 13. It is intended to have the gear 14 drive the ma chine in a forward direction and the gears 20 and 15 to drive in the opposite direction.

To steer my improved traction engine, I provide a vertical steering shaft 40 having a steering wheel 41 fixed to its upper extremity and being connected adjacent its lower end to a chain 42 or other suitable flexible member which is secured at its forward end to the axle 9.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that I have provided a very simple, practical and efficient traction engine, the direction of which may be quickly reversed.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In combination, a support, a drive shaft rotatably mounted on said support, a drive wheel mounted on said shaft, a frame movable toward or away from said wheel, arms pivotally supporting said frame on said support, a wheel rotatably mounted in said frame for frictional engagement with the drive wheel, a driven shaft rotatably supported under said support, a driving connection between the second mentioned wheel and said driven shaft, means for shifting the frame longitudinally including a pivoted lever having yieldable connection with said frame.

2. In combination, a support, a drive shaft on said support, a drive wheel on said drive shaft, a U shaped frame, means for pivotally supporting said U shaped frame above said support, an intermediate shaft rotatably mounted between the free extremities of said U shaped frame,a wheel on said intermediate shaft adapted to engage said drive wheel, a driven shaft rotatably mounted un der said support, a driving connection between said intermediate shaft and said driven shaft, the bight portion of said U shaped frame having an opening therethrough, a rod slidable in said opening, a guide bar secured transversely of said frame and slidably receiving said rod, a collariiXed 011 said rod between the web portion ofsaid frame and said guide'bar, a spiralspring coiled on said rod normally retaining said frame extended toward said drive wheel, and means for adjustably securing said'rod.

In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

' MARTINA; THORESON.

Witnesses:

'GHAs. 0. Olson, H. A. JonNsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

